Post-Traumatic Growth among Family Caregivers of Cancer Patients and its Relation to Perceived Social Support and Hope

Background: Cancer is not only a traumatic experience for the patients, but can also affect the family caregivers. Post-traumatic growth (PTG) refers to positive psychological changes experienced by people as a result of a struggle to deal with traumatic events in life. Both the patients and their caregivers may experience PTG. The present study aimed to assess the extent of PTG in caregivers of patients with cancer of the digestive system, and to examine the relationship between the PTG dimensions and both the perceived social support (SS) and hope.Methods: The present descriptive correlational study was conducted during May-August ۲۰۱۸ in Shiraz, Iran. The target population included ۱۱۲ caregivers who visited hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Data collection instruments included a demographic information form, post-traumatic growth inventory, social support appraisals scale, and Miller hope scale. The data were analyzed using the SPSS software (version ۲۳.۰). Results: The mean score for PTG, hope, and SS was ۷۵.۴۱±۱۶.۴۹, ۱۹۰.۹۵±۲۴.۲۰, and ۸۹.۱۰±۱۲.۸۴, respectively. A significant positive correlation was found between PTG and both SS (P˂۰.۰۵, r=۰.۵۵۷) and hope (P˂۰.۰۵, r=۰.۷۰۶). The results of the multiple regression analysis showed a significant relationship between PTG, SS, and hope (P˂۰.۰۵). Hope had a higher effect on PTG (ẞ=۰.۶۲۷) compared to SS (ẞ=۰.۲۷۶). Conclusion: The results showed a good level of PTG among the caregivers and the experience of stressful situations positively affected their psychological condition. The change was associated with the perceived SS and hope

کلیدواژه ها:

Post-traumatic growth ، Social support ، Hope ، Cancer ، Caregivers